By Becky Billingsley

Friday, Jan. 27, 2012, Myrtle Beach - A local chef is headed to Mexico to try and win a burger-making title, there's more information about a new Carolina Forest restaurant, a Conway restaurant is changing its name and management and a couple of upcoming fundraisers are super sweet.

Local Chef Competing for Burger Title in Mexico

Jake Vanklavern is a chef at Red Robin in Myrtle Beach, and on Jan. 31 he'll be competing in Riviera Maya, Mexico, for the title of the company's Smiling Burger Champion.

Red Robin is an international chain with 460 locations in the U.S. and Canada that's known for its burgers. In Ocotober 2011 Vanklavern won a regional semi-final in Raleigh, N.C., and he is one of nine chefs who will vie for the company title.

A company press release says the chef will have four minutes to assemble "a picture perfect Smiling Burger...made with all the ingredients visible and 'smiling' at guests - and present it to a panel of judges. The burger-maker who best follows Red Robin's Seven Key Elements to a Great Smiling Burger will be named the grand prize winner and will receive a cash prize of $4,000" and other items.

The Myrtle Beach Red Robin is near Coastal Grand Mall at 1218 N. Retail Court.

Brother Shuckers update

A new restaurant called Brother Shuckers, in the former location of Villa Mare at 4999 Carolina Forest Blvd., is being opened by a longtime local restaurant veteran. David Murphy, who founded the nearby Tavern in the Forest restaurant four years ago and has several other restaurant experiences to his credit. On Jan. 26 applicants for front of house positions were being interviewed, and Murphy was discussing plans with Chris Roberts, who will be Brother Shuckers' lead bartender and front of house manager.

The restaurant's interior has been remodeled to open up the space between the dining room and bar, and before the planned Feb. 24 opening new artwork will be hung and other decor changes will be made, including adding ceiling fans and televisions. The restaurant will be non-smoking.

Brother Shuckers will open at 4 p.m. daily and close at 11 or 11:30 p.m. It will have a full bar - including many different types of Bloody Marys - and the menu will feature seafood with 11 appetizers starting at $7, and 11 entrees ranging from $13-$20. A raw bar menu will also be served, and catering will be available.

"It's pretty unique to Carolina Forest," Murphy said. "This will not be your normal fried seafood place."

Appetizers include Oysters Rockefeller and Seafood Spring Rolls containing fish, crab and shrimp and served with cucumber wasabi dipping sauce. Entrees will include Shrimp and Grits, Seafood Gumbo and Fried Oysters.

Sunday Hours

Margaret and Tom Sollars of Litchfield Restaurant in Pawleys Island have received many requests for them to be open on Sundays during the off season, so they've decided to make diners happy. They're now open from 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays and are serving their full regular menu. 

Still Sweet

Tammy's Ice Cream & More, which opened in June 2011 at 1011 4th Ave. in Conway, has closed. Soon a new restaurant called Sweet Spot Cafe will replace it and serve light lunches, coffee, ice cream, "and much more."

Women, Wine, Chocolate and Shoes

From 6-9 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 7, at the former Sidewheeler Restaurant under the Main Street Bridge in Conway will be the site of the Second Annual Women, Wine, Chocolate and Shoes event hosted by the Conway Chamber of Commerce. Women are encouraged to bring gently used shoes, scarves and handbags that will be donated to the chamber. Heavy hors d'oeuvres, chocolate and wine will be served, and each attendee will be able to take home a pair of shoes. Photographer Bobby Dalto will be taking individual photos, if desired. One hundred tickets are being sold for $35 each. For more information, contact Bridgette Johnson at (843) 248-2273 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Artistically Sweet Fundraiser

A fundraiser benefiting the Rape Crisis Center will be held from 7:30-10:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11, at Ebb & Flow Art Co-op at 4763 U.S. 17 Bypass in Murrells Inlet. Tickets are $12 per person or $20 per couple, and the purchase price includes desserts donated by area chefs, wine and a silent art auction. Tickets are available at Ebb & Flow Art Co-op, by calling (843) 448-3180, or at the door the day of the event. 

New Daily Specials at Longbeard's

Chef Roxanne Trent of Longbeard's Bar and Grill at 5040 Carolina Forest Blvd. has announced several new specials:

On Friday nights, Prime Rib with two side dishes is $17.

Every night of the week, Longbeard's Four Course Feast includes soup, salad, a New York Strip steak with two side dishes, and dessert for $17.

On Monday nights, Shrimp and Grits is $11.

Tuesdays, you can eat all the wings you like for $9, and the wings come with fries, celery and blue cheese dressing. 

Wednesdays, the New York Strip Dinner is two for $19, or one for $9.50; or a Country Fried Steak dinner with mashed potatoes, gravy and green beans is $13.

And on Thursdays the dinner special is Chicken or Steak Hibachi for $13.